Packages and packing methods



Oct. 13, 1959 J. Enos, JR

PACKAGES AND PACKING METHons Filed Dec. 4, 1956 United States Patent2,908,121 n A PACKAGES AND lPACKING METHODS..

Joseph Enos, Jr., Woodlake, Calif., assignor to California WheelingMachine Products Co., Woodlake, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication December 4, 1956, Serial No. 626,134

2 Claims. (Cl. 531-3) The present invention relates .to packages andmore particularly to the packaging of articles in relatively small packsand the packaging of pluralities of such relatively small packsin-assembled relation in multiple packs.

It is well-known that `the ultimate cost to the consumer of manyarticles of sale involves more expense for the packaging and repackagingof the articles than the actual production thereof. For example,pipettings are usually shipped from the manufacturer to the wholesalerin bins, barrels or other large containers. The wholesaler usually`relpacks the ttings in berboard boxes or paper bags for sale tohardware stores, plumbing shops or like retail merchants. The retailmerchants in turn repackage the fittings in small quantities suitablefor customer purchase or in response to customer selection.

However, the best packing methods and packages available have beensubjectto disadvantages which the present invention has successfullyovercome. Since conventional fiberboard boxes and other packages havebeen uneconomical in small sizes and frequently not properly durable,the above Vdescribed packaging and repackaging procedure has still beenfollowed even though admittedly inconvenient, uneconomical and timeconsuming. Lf formed prior to shipment to the user, iiberboard packagesare extremely bulky to ship and to store. If shipped in flat blanksformed 'for the purpose, as isthe usual practice, they-are relativelycompact to ship and to store but impose upon the user the onerous tasksof folding, assembling and taping or otherwise securing theassembledpackages.

Further, such previous packages have not made fully successful provisionfor economical small packs of a suitable size for the ultimate purchasernor for the convenient and economical assembly of such small packs intomultiple packs for shipment from the factory to the wholesaler or thelike.

In addition to the.v added sales appeal of ,small packages, sales arealso stimulated if the customersare able" to see the articles within thepackages. Whleit is Vrecognized that packages providing contentvisibility have been known, such packages also have not been economical,have usually not been available in Asmall sizes, and have requiredrepackaging by the retail merchant since such packages have not beenadapted to economical large volume shipment from factory to`wholesaleror the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aysimplified package 'for articles adapted for compact assembly, whichpackage is economical in even small sizes. 4

Another .object is to enable the packaging of articles in relativelylarge quantities, as forpshipment from a factory to Wholesalers, whichpermits the ultimate sale vor distribution in relatively small packageswithout ref ice and their subsequent sale or distribution in relativelysmall amounts in packages severed from the multiple pack.

Another object is to reduce thel consumers price for packaged articlesby the provision of more economical packages and by avoidingrequirements for repackaging.

Another object is to provide an improved package for pipe nipples andother elongated articles adapted for compact assembly.

These and other objects will become more apparent in the subsequentdescription in the -speciication In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a blank of sheet material which has beenscored in the manner provided by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a package embodying the principles ofthe present invention in an initial stage of its formation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the package in asucceeding stage of its formation and being cut away to show pipenipples contained therein.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a ,stock Vof the packages,such as shown in Fig. 3, but with each of the packages on a somewhatreduced scale from that shown in Fig. 3 `and with several packages latthe top of the stack removed to illustrate an important advantage of theinvention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, an elongated substantiallyrectangular sheet or blank 101 of preferably economical material, suchas iberboard or cardboard is provided. For convenience in laterreference, the sheet has a predetermined inside surface 1.1, an outsidesurface 12, la pair of parallel longitudinally extended side edges 13,and a pair of parallel transversely extended end edges 14 and 15.

In addition, the sheet 10 is transversely .scored or stamped to providea pair of inner fold lines 16 and 17 in spaced parallel relation, and apair of outer foldlilles 18 and 19 in spaced parallel relation :to theinner fold lines as well as the end edges 14. The `sheet Vthus providesa rectangular center panel'22, relatively short intermediate panels23and 24, a short `end ap 25 and a longer opposite end llap 216.

On a mass production basis, it will be .ev-ident that the sheet 10 maybe part of a much larger pieceof cardboard or other suitable materialand that by use of a stamping machine, the lines 16, 17, 18 and 19 maybe `stamped into individual sheets 10 cut from such larger piece ofmaterial.

The sheet 10 is rst folded on the inner fold vlines 16 and 17 to bringthe intermediate panels into upright, substantially perpendicularrelation to the center panel 22, as best seen in Fig. 2. The longer endap 26 'is then folded downwardly on the outer fold line 19 until it isin substantially parallel relation to the center panel. The end edge15is placed along the outer fold line 18. It is to be noted at this pointthat the longend ilap and the center panel are preferably of thelsam'elength so thatl when the long end llap is placed as described, thecenter panel, the long end llap, and the intermediate panels 23 and 25are in rectangular relation with each other. Next, the shorter end flap25 is folded downwardly along the outer fold line 18 into overlyingrelation with the longer end flap. In this regard4 it is noted that theend edge 14 is in spaced relation to the outer fold line 19 so as toprovide an exposed area of the long end flap. The sheet is secured inthis condition by means of a securing tape 30 adhesively bonded `to theshort end Hap 25, extended transversely of the end edge 14, and bondedto the exposed area of rthe longer end flap. The

. durable. l method of the subject invention, packaging costs have beenreduced to a fraction of what was previously reinvention.

sheet thus forms a wrapper generally indicated by the numeral 35including opposite side openings or windows 36 circumscribed by thesideedges 13. p In Yorder to fill the wrapper Y35, lit is stood on one ofits sidesv so that one of the/side openings 36 rests against a flatsurface, Vsuch as a table not shown, and the opposite side is upwardlydisposed. Elongated articles 40, such as pipe nipples, are then fitteddownwardly into the wrapper so as to lie between the center panel 22 andlong end flap 26 and to Vextend longitudinally of the center panelbetween the intermediate panels 223 and 214. Preferably the distancebetween the intermediate panels is equal to the length of the articles.It is not necessary, however, that the diameter of the articles be equalto the distance between the long end flap and the center panel inasmuchas the articles may be stacked in corded condition within the wrapper.In any event it is suiiicient to observe at this point that theydimensions of the wrapper-may be suited to accommodate various sizes,numbers and types of articles in the manner described.

When the wrapperA 35 is filled with articles 40, an article retainingtape 45 is transversely extended in circumscribing relation around thewrapper so as to bridge the side' v,openings 36. The tape, vwhich may besimilar to the flap securing tape 30, is preferably of a high strength,commercial, adhesive material so that it may be lbonded to itself or tothe center panel :22 or short end ap 25. Pressure tapes are excellentlysuited to the purpose. l It will be evident that the article retainingtape holds the articles within the wrapper in visible conldition' andcompletes a very compact package.

The filled wrappers or packs 35 may be stacked one vupon the other, asshown in Fig. 5. For this purpose `the center .panel l2.2l of eachwrapper is rested on the short and long end iiaps 25 and 26 of thewrapper therebeneath so that the side edges 13 are coincident and theinner fold lines 16 and 17 vare coincident with the outer fold lines 18and 19 of the wrapper next adjacent therebelow. A stack retaining tape50 of suitable length is then transversely extended in circumscribingrelation around the entire stack of wrappers so as to overlay thearticle retaining tapes 45 where they bridge the individual sideopenings 36 of the wrappers and Where they extend across the uppermostand lowermost wrappers in the stack. As before, the stack retaining tapeis preferably adhesively bonded to itself, to the uppermost or lowermostwrapper and/or to the edges 13 of the wrappers. In this manner a largenumber of articles may be packaged, 'conveniently stored or transported,and easily distributed in large or small quantities without repackaging.

OPERATION a stack of sheets 10 is placed on a table along with a numberof nipples and a quanti-ty ofadhesive tape. The sheet is initiallyfolded and taped to form` the wrap-per 35 as shown in Fig. 2. Then it isfilled withnipples 40 and the article retaining tape 45 is extendedtherearound. It is found that this is a very rapid and easy task toperform and that the completed package is compact and When employing thepackage and packaging garded as an irreducible minimum.

Although different size sheets 10 should be employed for articles ofvarious dimensions, itis possible to` store or transport a greaterVnumber of articles of the same length in multiple packs with thepackage of the subject As explained, the wrappers 35 can be stacked asshown in Fig. and held in thisI Icondition by a stack soV . articlesretaining tape 50. The number of wrappers in the stack is easilyselected to suit requirements. As far as distribution is concerned, thestack retaining tape may be transversely severed at any positionlongitudinally of its length between adjacent packs 35 to remove aselected number thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 5, two wrapperscontaining eight nipples are segregated from the` top of themultiplepack. The remaining packages in the stack are held intactinasmuch as the stackretaining tape overlies and is bonded -to thesheets 10 and the article retaining tape 45.

Clearly, therefore, the subject invention although simple in natureprovides significant improvements in the packaging art. It`obviates theneed for having extensive varieties of box sizes to accommodate dilerentnurnbers of packaged articles. It is more economical to constnuct andassemble, and is as fullyrdurable and dependable in use as packageswhich have previouslyrbeen known. The package of the subject inventionalso enhances the sales appeal of packaged articles inasmuch as the sideopenings 36 provide windows through which the articles may be viewed andmake small package units commercially feasible. In practicalapplication, the package of the present invention has met withwidespread approval as being yexcellently suited to the accomplishmentof itsintended purposes.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyvand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what Ik claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A method of packaging elongated substantially straight, rigid,cylindrical, tubular articles of uniform length and diameter and havingopen opposite ends and outer cylindrical surfaces, comprising scoring anelongated substantially rectangular sheet of iiberboard having apredetermined length, longitudinally extended side edges andtransversely extended end edges to provide a pair of outer fold linesspaced from their respectively adjacent end edges to definepredetermined elongated inner and outer end flaps between such -outerfold lines and their respectively adjacent end edges; scoring said'sheet to providev a pair of inner fold lines spaced apart tance betweenthe inner fold-lines being .substantially equal to the common length ofthe articles to be packaged; folding the sheet along the inner foldlines to bring the intermediate panels into spaced substantiallyparallel relation whereby the intermediate panels are spacedsubstantially the same distance apart as the common length ofthearticles to be packaged; folding the inner end flap along its outer foldline into spaced parallel relation with the center panel and with itsend edge in abutment with the outer fold line between the outer end flapand the adjacent intermediate panel; folding the outer end flap alongits outer fold line into overlapping relation with the inner end flap;axing the outer end Hap to the exposed outer surface' of the inner endflap; inserting elongated articles within the folded sheet between lthecenter panel and the inner end flap with the articles extendedlongitudinally of thev center panel and end aps, with the opposite openends of the respectively engaging adjacent intermediate o f theputerinst articles extended longitudinally adjacent to opposite sideedges of the sheet and substantially tangential to planes containingsaid side edges whereby the longitudinal axes of the articles aredisposed transversely of the fold lines of the sheet; and extending alength of Itape transversely aroundthe center panel and the end apssubstantially equidistantly between the intermediate panels andtransversely of the articles against the outer surfaces of the outermostarticles to hold the articles in said folded sheet.

2. A method of packaging elongated hollow pipe nipples of substantiallyequal, predetermined length and uniform diameter with an elongatedsubstantially rectangular sheet of substantially rigid tberboardmaterial having predetermined length and width, longitudinally extendedopposite side edges, and transversely extended opposite end edges, saidnipples having outer cylindrical surfaces and opposite open ends,comprising' the steps of scoring the sheet to provide a pair of outerfold lines, one of which is spaced a distance from its adjacent end edgesubstantially equal to the common length of the pipe nipples anddefining an elongated inner end ap with said adjacent end edge, and theother of the fold lines being spaced closer to its adjacent end edge todene an elongated outer end tlap therewith; scoring said sheet toprovide a pair of inner fold lines spaced substantially the samedistance apart as the length of said inner end flap and being insubstantially equally spaced relation to adjacent outer fold lines todefine an elongated center panel between the inner fold lines andintermediate panels between said inner and outer fold lines, theintermediate panels being of substantially the same length as the commondiameter of the pipe nipples, all of said fold lines being insubstantially parallel relation to each other and to the end edges;folding the sheet along the inner fold lines to bring the intermediatepanels into opposed substantially parallel spaced relation; folding theinner end ap into spaced substantially parallel relation to the centerpanel with its end edge abutting the outer fold line between the outerend flap and the adjacent intermediate panel, the inner end flap beingthereby spaced from the center panel a distance substantially equal tothe common diameter of the pipe nipples, and the distance between theintermediate panels being thereby substantially equal to the length ofthe pipe nipples; folding the outer end flap into overlapping relationwith the inner end ilap whereby its end edge is in spaced relation tothe outer fold line between the inner end flap and its adjacentintermediate panel; applying tape transversely 'of the end edge of theouter end flap on the outer surface of the outer end flap and theexposed outer surface of the inner end Hap to hold the inner and outerend aps together; stacking a plurality of the pipe nipples between theinner end iiap and the center panel with the pipe nipples extendedlongitudinally of the center panel, with the longitudinal axes of thenipples in a common plane substantially parallel to the center panel,With said axes substantially normal to the fold lines of the sheet, withopposite ends of the nipples contacting respectively adjacentintermediate panels, with the outer surfaces of adjacent nipples incontact with each other, and with the outer surfaces of the outermostnipples being respectively substantially tangential to planes containingthe outer edges of the sheet; and extending a length of tapetransversely around the folded sheet equidistantly between theintermediate panels and in contact with the outer end ap, the outersurfaces of the outermost pipe nipples in the resultant package, and thecenter panel thereby to hold the nipples within the folded sheet whileexposing the outermost nipples.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tayloret al I an. 22, 1957

